Our Minister

Mark Shaw

Mark.Shaw@ballycrochanpc.org

 

Mark Shaw began his ministry in Ballycrochan Presbyterian Church in January 2022, having served as minister of Strabane Presbyterian church for 15 years and Sion Mills Presbyterian Church during the last four years as a joint charge. Previously, he enjoyed serving at Ballysillan Presbyterian, as an urban mission worker, under the Rev Norman Hamilton, during which time he applied for the ministry. Whilst doing his Diploma in Ministry he worked part time at Sinclair Seamen’s Presbyterian Church with the Rev Drew Abernethy until he moved to Second Comber Presbyterian Church as assistant to the Rev Roy Mackay.

Mark’s hope, under God’s grace, at Ballycrochan is to encourage evangelism, discipleship, and mission, led by the Holy Spirit and fuelled by prayer.

 
 
 
 

Our Community Outreach Worker

Ben Cavan

outreach@ballycrochanpc.org

 

Ben is a QUB Law graduate who felt called into some form of Christian ministry. He really felt God’s calling when he saw the position of Community Outreach Worker here at Ballycrochan. Ben has always had a flare for outreach, getting involved in various ministries while at university and also in church. He has seen God’s grace in his own life, and would love to share with others how God can completely transform their life. Ben has been heavily involved with young people for most of his life, and would love to see more of them in our church family.

As community outreach worker, Ben would love to see various people, of various ages, come along to our church and become a part of our family. He would love to answer any questions that you might have about joining the church. We hope to see you soon.

 
 

The Staff

Portraits by Ricky Parker

Ballycrochan+-18.jpg

billy hyndman

hello@ballycrochanpc.org

Clerk of Session

KAREN CARDY

hello@ballycrochanpc.org

Committee Chair

Ballycrochan-38.jpg

Renee mCcracken

office@ballycrochanpc.org

Church Administrator/Congregational Secretary

 

The Elders

Florence Blair
Pastoral Ministry

Michael Brackenridge
Sunday Club

Pat Woods
Mission

Maureen Greer
Prayer Ministry

Brian Gartland
Pastoral Care

Tom Henry
Discipleship

Billy Hyndman
Clerk of Session

Robert Larke
Discipleship

Barry Lowry
Online Ministry

Angela Martin
Music and Praise

Jim Patterson

Brian Payne
Creative Worship

Evelyn Shaw
Children and Young People

Tom Shaw
Mission

Isobel Walker
Pastoral Ministry

Bill Aiken

John Armstrong

Forty five years ago there was nothing in this area, only fields.  As the town of Bangor grew, new houses were built and new people and families came to live in the area.  They wanted somewhere local to worship God and at that time the Presbyterian Church helped local communities who wanted to start a new church.  Under the Church Extension Scheme, Ballycrochan Presbyterian Church began as a new fellowship in 1974. The people who were the founding members met initially in a humble wooden hut and used a biscuit tin for the weekly offerings (look out for the drawing of the hut in the church foyer).

These people, under the leadership of the first Minister, the Rev Alec Beattie, prayed together and God gave them the vision and passion to build a new church in Ballycrochan area.  Land was acquired and the foundation stone of Ballycrochan Presbyterian Church was laid on 29th October 1977.  This building, now used as our halls, soon became too small for the rapidly growing congregation.  So, after Ballycrochan became established as a fully-fledged congregation in 1981, Rev Beattie, and the newly elected Kirk Session began to contemplate the provision of a new church building to accommodate 500 at worship.  Key decisions had yet to be taken when the Rev Beattie accepted a call to minister in Donegal.

The new Minister, the Rev Douglas Bradley, the Kirk Session and Committee and church members responded enthusiastically to the challenge to provide a new Church and the Building Fund began to grow steadily.  The Presbyterian Church in Ireland agreed to make a large contribution to congregation’s building fund to help get the project completed as soon as possible.   At the same time, through the initiative of the BB Captain, an opportunity was realized to build a free-standing hall for youth work through a government job-creation scheme - at the cost of materials alone. The project to build the hall – to be known as the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) – became an integral part of the congregation’s building programme.

The excitement and enthusiasm generated by the building projects grew steadily and it was with a sense of great thanksgiving that the congregation witnessed the opening of the new church by the Moderator of the General Assembly, the Right Rev Principal Finlay Holmes on Saturday 13th October 1990.

The Wider Church

www.presbyterianireland.org